Up and Vanished Weekly: "MURDERED: The Jennings 8" Summary
Podcast Information
- Title: Up and Vanished Weekly
- Host/Author: Tenderfoot TV
- Description: From the creators of the acclaimed investigative series Up and Vanished, this weekly podcast delves into some of the most perplexing criminal cases, including missing persons, unsolved murders, and wrongful convictions. Hosted by Payne Lindsay and Maggie Freeling, along with guest experts from the true crime community, the podcast explores the complexities and hidden layers of each case.
- Episode: MURDERED: The Jennings 8
- Release Date: February 26, 2025
Introduction to the Case
The episode "MURDERED: The Jennings 8" explores the mysterious deaths of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, collectively known as the Jennings Eight. These cases, spanning over several years, remain unsolved and are entwined with local issues of poverty, addiction, and alleged corruption within the law enforcement community.
Key Excerpts:
- Payne Lindsay [02:38]: "From Tenderfoot TV in Atlanta, this is Up and Vanish Weekly with Payne Lindsay and Maggie Freeling."
- Maggie Freeling [04:49]: "Eight young women, some teenagers, with their lives ahead of them, doing the best they could in a desperate situation."
Background of the Jennings Eight
On May 20, 2005, in southwest Louisiana, Jerry Jackson discovered the body of 28-year-old Loretta Chassal Lewis while fishing. This grim find marked the beginning of a series of eight women discovered in the swampy marshes of Jennings over the subsequent years. These women shared common struggles, including poverty and involvement in the sex trade or drug selling.
Key Excerpts:
- Payne Lindsay [02:38]: "As haunting as this discovery was, locals would soon be faced with an unsettling reality."
- Maggie Freeling [04:49]: "They were born into poverty in a dead-end town with limited to no opportunity."
Jennings, Louisiana: The Town's Dark Underbelly
Jennings is characterized by its rural southern charm juxtaposed with deep-seated issues such as addiction, poverty, and corruption. The presence of Interstate 10 has turned Jennings into a hub for drug and human trafficking, further exacerbating local problems. The small-town environment, where "everyone knows everyone," complicates investigations due to tight-knit community relationships and potential collusion.
Key Excerpts:
- Payne Lindsay [12:07]: "Jennings, Louisiana, is a small town in the county of Jefferson Davis Parish."
- Maggie Freeling [12:37]: "Jennings is a small town. It's about 9,000 people."
Frankie Richard: The Central Figure
Frankie Richard, a local strip club owner, emerges as a central figure in the investigation. Richard's connections to seven of the eight women and alleged ties to corrupt law enforcement officials raise suspicions about his involvement and the broader systemic issues within the Jennings Sheriff's Office.
Key Excerpts:
- Maggie Freeling [14:31]: "He knew all of these women except for one of them."
- Payne Lindsay [17:19]: "Ryshar is well known in Jennings as a strip club owner and local hustler."
Allegations of Corruption and Cover-Up
The podcast delves into allegations that higher-ranking officers within the Jennings Sheriff's Office were complicit in covering up the murders. Reports of evidence tampering, such as the theft of marijuana from evidence lockers and the mishandling of homicide cases, point towards a deeply corrupted system. Independent journalist Ethan Brown's investigation uncovers connections between the victims, law enforcement, and the local drug trade, suggesting that the murders were not random but part of a larger conspiracy.
Key Excerpts:
- Maggie Freeling [20:16]: "Frankie Richard in certain capacities is doing illegal activities with someone in the sheriff's office."
- Payne Lindsay [37:35]: "Ethan Brown combed through years of records and interviews, uncovering the connections between the victims, law enforcement, and Jennings drug trade."
Impact of Marginalization
The Jennings Eight were marginalized individuals—low-income, some involved in sex work or drug use, and acting as police informants. The podcast discusses whether their marginalized status contributed to their vulnerability and the lack of urgency in solving their cases. Maggie Freeling emphasizes that while their societal status may have played a role, the systematic targeting appears to be more calculated and connected to what these women knew about local corruption.
Key Excerpts:
- Maggie Freeling [33:13]: "All of these women were marginalized. They were low income, they were users. Some were sex workers, police informants."
- Matt Frederick [33:36]: "You can't throw that out. You have to at least imagine that that is part of the reality here."
Law Enforcement's Role and Challenges
Investigating the Jennings Eight is complicated by the corruption within the local police force. A joint task force, intended to bring objectivity, faces skepticism as many believe the same authorities being investigated are the perpetrators. The low homicide clearance rate in Jefferson Davis Parish—less than 7% compared to the national average of 64%—highlights the inefficiency and potential corruption hindering justice.
Key Excerpts:
- Payne Lindsay [35:44]: "Tasks like forming a joint task force are undermined by suspicions of corruption within law enforcement."
- Maggie Freeling [37:54]: "It's incompetence where somebody's doing something wrong."
Theories and Speculations
Host Matt Frederick and guest experts discuss various theories, ranging from a serial killer targeting informants to a broader conspiracy involving multiple individuals within the community and law enforcement. The disappearance and murders of the Jennings Eight suggest a pattern that aligns more with systemic corruption than isolated incidents of crime.
Key Excerpts:
- Matt Frederick [40:16]: "Somebody's covering up their tracks. There's all these allegations of evidence being tampered with."
- Maggie Freeling [41:10]: "It's definitely not a serial killer. It is a conspiracy of a small group of people who want to take these women out."
Community and Family Impact
The unresolved nature of the Jennings Eight's murders has left a lasting impact on the community and the families of the victims. Families feel abandoned by the justice system and face societal stigma. Efforts to memorialize the victims, such as billboards along Interstate 10, aim to keep their memories alive and pressure authorities to find answers.
Key Excerpts:
- Maggie Freeling [50:09]: "The families had no voice when their loved ones went missing."
- Payne Lindsay [51:25]: "Billboards featuring the faces of the eight women."
Conclusion and Ongoing Investigation
The episode concludes by highlighting the persistent frustration and unresolved questions surrounding the Jennings Eight. Despite independent investigations and mounting evidence of corruption, the case remains unsolved, leaving the community yearning for justice and closure.
Key Excerpts:
- Maggie Freeling [54:09]: "According to the FBI, the parish has a clearance rate of less than 7%."
- Payne Lindsay [54:20]: "Search Tenderfoot TV on your favorite podcast app or visit us at Tenderfoot.tv."
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Maggie Freeling [04:49]: "They were born into poverty in a dead-end town with limited to no opportunity."
- Matt Frederick [14:47]: "And that's the way he even described himself."
- Maggie Freeling [16:19]: "Frankie Richard, that's what he was."
- Matt Frederick [20:23]: "It's just a local strip club owner and the deputy chief sheriff. It's fine."
- Maggie Freeling [22:07]: "Maybe Frankie is so me who works in wrongful convictions."
- Matt Frederick [26:25]: "Every one of these murders. I think we have more than one killer here."
- Maggie Freeling [37:54]: "It's incompetence where somebody's doing something wrong."
- Matt Frederick [40:42]: "It's a cover up."
Final Thoughts
"MURDERED: The Jennings 8" sheds light on a deeply troubling series of unsolved murders intertwined with local societal issues and alleged law enforcement corruption. Through in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and investigative insights, the podcast seeks to uncover the truth behind the deaths of these eight women and the systemic failures that may have allowed such tragedies to persist.
Listeners are left with a haunting reminder of the complexities in solving crimes within small, tightly-knit communities and the pervasive impact of corruption on justice.